Gill added shot blocking, leadership

Hal Gill was not the most gifted skater. He didn’t join the play as an offensive threat, and he wasn’t considered a puck-moving defenseman for the Predators.

That being said, he was still an effective player. He was the team’s top penalty killer, an excellent shot blocker and Nashville’s lone player who had won a Stanley Cup.

Though the 38-year-old Gill was entering the final year of his contract, and likely last season in Nashville, he still had the ability to play a decent role on the Predators third pair, and help 2013 first round pick Seth Jones develop. On Tuesday, Nashville announced it put Gill on waivers, effectively ending his 55-game stint with the Predators.

Nashville wanted to get more youthful on the blueline and put its faith in its younger assets — Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis — to develop into NHL players.

Throughout the latter portion of his career, Gill was a player who pushed younger assets in the right direction. He broke in 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban during his two-plus seasons in Montreal.

This all can’t be attributed to Gill, but his stay-at-home nature enables younger offensive defensemen to feel less risk and fear when they jump into the play.

He also was a loud voice in the locker room, one who kept his teammates loose during tough times — an important factor in an 82-game season with tons of ups and downs.

Nashville was looking to get younger and more mobile with this decision. They want a defense that can grow together and stay together for a number of years. If Ellis and Ekholm develop as Nashville plans, the Predators could be set in their top six for a long time.

That all being said, Gill could and should be a valuable asset to another team.